The banning executive order is based on a 72-year-old law that gives the U.S. president the authority to permanently protect offshore waters from leasing for oil and gas drilling. Unlike other executive actions that can be overturned, this measure is not quickly reversible.
Its introduction is expected to make it more difficult to realize President-elect Donald Trump's intentions to increase domestic energy production.
The move is in response to pressure from Democrats in Congress and environmental groups who have been pushing for stronger protections for marine ecosystems and coastal communities from the effects of drilling, such as oil spills and negative climate impacts, Bloomberg reported.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry named the U.S. as the main beneficiary of the suspension of Russian gas transit through Ukraine to the EU. Also, the surplus of wind energy in Germany has caused electricity prices to fall below zero.